tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9242710.post2630744318312697186..comments2023-10-31T07:23:17.922-04:00Comments on The Theos Project: State of the Union 2007Jonathan Erdmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04234688186113838474noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9242710.post-62817331308777407222007-01-28T00:40:00.000-05:002007-01-28T00:40:00.000-05:00In the spirit of open dialog, I'll answer the ques...In the spirit of open dialog, I'll answer the question. It's clear that the Muslim world already knew, pre-9/11 and pre-Iraq, that America was the most powerful nation in the world: militarily, economically, and culturally (Hollywood, popular music, etc.). The invasion of Iraq probably did demonstrate to the Middle East that a riled-up America was not to be trifled with. I suspect that in the Islamic worldview the persistence of the insurgency exposes American military weakness and lends strength to the resistance. In that sense there has been a loss of respect for American muscle. <br /><br />If the US walks away, do I believe that it will be interpreted in the Middle East as weakness of will on the part of the American public? Probably. I think they'd be right. I believe the American public soured on the war not out of any ideological rethinking but because it's not going well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9242710.post-25780760591752867482007-01-26T12:55:00.000-05:002007-01-26T12:55:00.000-05:00Ok. I guess I'm outnumbered two to one....Ok. I guess I'm outnumbered two to one....Jonathan Erdmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04234688186113838474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9242710.post-27184984628644485052007-01-26T12:50:00.000-05:002007-01-26T12:50:00.000-05:00I agree with John.I agree with John.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9242710.post-74656872401789186082007-01-26T12:48:00.000-05:002007-01-26T12:48:00.000-05:00Forget it.Forget it.john doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05484728969355294193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9242710.post-23440464151249353332007-01-26T12:38:00.000-05:002007-01-26T12:38:00.000-05:00I didn't ask about "the world." I didn't ask about...I didn't ask about "the world." I didn't ask about the opinion of the French or the Germans. I asked about whether or not the middle east respected us more since we flexed our muscles in the middle east.<br /><br />Ok, I realize that the "flexing our muscles" term may seem a bit too crass and masculine. However, I still hold it out there as a question. (And, yes, I still think it is a <i>serious</i> question.)<br /><br />"The world" may have been with us after 9/11, but who wouldn't be? We were just pounded. But as soon as we started to do something about it they desert us. What's that all about?Jonathan Erdmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04234688186113838474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9242710.post-67002341265008006552007-01-26T09:21:00.000-05:002007-01-26T09:21:00.000-05:00You're dodging the question -- isn't that the line...<i>You're dodging the question</i> -- isn't that the line the talkshow hosts use when they can't think of anything clever to say? The question was what -- that the Middle East has more respect for us now because we flexed our muscles? This was intended as a serious question? Ousting Saddam was an effective show of force. Everything since then has backfired. The world was with us after 9/11; now world opinion regards the US as the single most dangerous threat to world peace. No, I wouldn't call that respect. It's the same sort of respect Saddam used to inspire in his own petty dictatorial way, but we <i>really do</i> have WMDs and a means of delivering them and a paranoia that seemingly knows no bounds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9242710.post-33212587688399336342007-01-26T07:14:00.000-05:002007-01-26T07:14:00.000-05:00Dude - You are dodging the question!Dude - You are dodging the question!Jonathan Erdmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04234688186113838474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9242710.post-19887967629719456842007-01-25T20:34:00.000-05:002007-01-25T20:34:00.000-05:00I thought the idea was to liberate the Iraqis, not...I thought the idea was to liberate the Iraqis, not to teach them a lesson. At first it was just Saddam and al-Qaida that we were after. Now it seems that we've come to regard the entire Middle East as anti-Western, with terrorists just being the extreme end of the continuum. What went so horribly wrong?john doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05484728969355294193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9242710.post-41338939975368586982007-01-25T10:06:00.000-05:002007-01-25T10:06:00.000-05:00Ok. Fair enough.
However, this "sectarian strife"...Ok. Fair enough.<br /><br />However, this "sectarian strife" is no longer a localized problem in some obscure part of the world that we can just ignore. All sides are breeding terrorists who are hitting western societies. I think we can both agree that after September 11 we could no longer afford to keep our heads in the sand and allow this problem to continue to fester. <br /><br />The one commonality that these diverse and sometimes opposing forces share is a rage against "western" society and culture that they see as evil and immoral. Extremists believe the evil must be exterminated. I am for the war on Iraq simply because I wonder what else could be done? Senator Kerry's chatter during the 2004 campaign about more diplomacy always seemed like hot air to me. It is easy to talk about talking to people. But if they already hate you I'm not sure how much good that is going to do.<br /><br />What do you think about this:<br />The middle east may not like us anymore than they did before the war, but since we started flexing our muscles just a bit (we could have done much, much worse!) don't you think they now have a bit more respect for us???Jonathan Erdmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04234688186113838474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9242710.post-296220016221412452007-01-24T23:31:00.000-05:002007-01-24T23:31:00.000-05:00I think lumping the whole Iraq war with the war on...I think lumping the whole Iraq war with the war on terror is unjustified -- most of the action in Iraq seems motivated by sectarian strife that's been going on for centuries. And by now America is the occupying force rather than the liberator -- I think you and I would likely feel that way if we lived there. <br /><br />I'm not so sure Iraq would end up in Iran's camp. Iraqis are Arab, Iranians are not; Iraqis speak Arabic, Iranians speak Parsi. If Iran tried to take over Iraq they'd have at least as much trouble as we've had. If they tried, then al-Qaida (Sunni) would be fighting against Iran (Shiite).<br /><br />Bush's comments on Lebanon were, I though, self-contradictory. He pointed to the democratically-elected government in Lebanon as a success in the Middle East, but then he lambasted Hezbollah -- one of the duly-elected factions in the elected coalition government -- as on a par with al-Qaida. In my view, and arguably in the eyes of most of the world, Israel destroyed Lebanon with a massive and tragic retaliation that was entirely out of proportion to the provocation. In the Administration's eyes Israel can do no wrong. It is a challenge when countries democratically elect governments we don't like and who don't like us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com